Safety closure for filling tubes of tanks



Jan, 24, 1939. F. A. ED ARDS ET AL v 7 ,1 ,2

SAFETY CLOSURE FOR FILLING TUBES OF TANKS Filed Jan. 7, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet l lnvenTors. Frank AEdWQ Henry LPQTnQU e ATTys.

F. A. EDWARDS ET AL 2,145,212

SAFETY CLOSURE FOR FILLING TUBES OF TANKS Jan. 24, 1939.

Filed Jan. 7,. 193a I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8

2s e1 22 44 28 4s 1 3 0 47- n lnvenTors. 1 FrclnK AEdwords 54 Henry L.Pa'fncude s2 53 b MMIM Patented 1511.24, 1939 UNITED STATES'PFATENTOFFICE Frank A. Edwards, Arlingtomand. Henry L. Patnaude, Newtonville','Mass assignors to. Fae Lock Company, Inc., Cohasset, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts f Application January 7, 1938, serial No.183,808

2 Claims. (01; 220 35) This invention relates to improvements inclosures for the filling tube of a tank such as the tank for supplyingfuel to an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to the fueltanks of automobiles; and the object of the invention is to provide asafety closure having locking means which may be remotely controlledfrom such position as will prevent unauthorized access to the fillingtank.

More particularly the invention relates to a closurefor the fillingtubeof an automobile tank having locking mechanism which may be controlledby means mounted upon the dash or instrument board of the automobile andwhich is accessible only from withinthe car, so that when the doors ofthe car are closed and locked the filling tube cannot be opened and fuelsurreptitiously removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety closure of thecharacter above described in which the cap'for the filling tube ispermanently connected to the tank and cannot be'inadvertently lost,

Another objectof the invention is to provide a closure of this characterof such construction as will prevent entrance of water or dust into thetank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety closure, for thefilling tube of a fuel tank, of such construction that it'can be readilyapplied to usual standard forms of filling tubes for the gasoline tankof automobiles, and which canv beso secured to the filling tube fromwithin as to prevent detachment when the cap is closed.

Another feature-of the invention is to provide a filling tube closure ofthe character described which will reduce the time required by theattendant of the gasoline station to openthe filling tube for thepurpose of introduction of gasoline and to close the tube after-the.tank hasbeen These and other objects and features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings,in which,

Fig. 1 is a detailside elevation of the filling tube and a closureembodyingthe invention illustrating the manner in which the remotecontrol for the cap-locking device is illustrated as extendingthroughthe instrument board or dash of the automobilewhich isillustrated in vertical section;

55 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the filling tube with the closure embodyingthe invention applied to the upper end of the tube;-

Fig. 3 isa vertical diametrical sectional view through the. filling tubeclosure illustrating the cap in locked position; i

Fig. 4=is aplan view of the construction illustrated'. in Fig. 3 whichdiifers slightly from that illustrated inplanin Fig. 2;:

Fig. '5 is an end elevation on a smaller scale showing the cap for theclosure in locked position; r

Fig. dis a detail view in vertical section illustrating the manner inwhich the plate upon which the'cap'is pivotally mounted is secured tothe usual type of' filling tube from within and therefore'inacces'siblewhen the'cap is closed;

Fig. 'l'is a detail 'view in perspective illustrating one of the ringclamps for securing the plate upon the upper end of the filling tube asshown in Fi 6.

The filling tubes of automobile tanks of .usual standard constructionare' provided at their upper ends-"with an inwardly extending flangehaving a downwardly projecting lip usually provided withtwodiametrically oppositely inclined or camshaped'edges, the flange andlips being'cut away at intervals topermit the introduction of a lookingplate which-is secured to thecap and which when introduced and thenturned part of a revolution' will engage'the inclined or cam-shaped faceof the lip and thereby lock the cap in place upon the end of the tube.

' Thepresent invention comprises a closure for the filling tube which isadapted to be applied to filling tubes of this character and is in theform of" a flat metal=plate having a countersink to fit over the end ofthe filling tube with means to secure the plate tof the filling tube insuch manner that when the cap is closed it will be inaccessible, therebypreventing removal of the appliance from the tube. The cap for thefilling tube has a flat under surface complementary to that ofthe-plate, and is pivotally mounted to swing laterally with the flatfaces in engagement a sufficient' distance to permit the upper end ofthe filling tube tobe exposed. Resilient means desirably are providedtending normally to force the cap to open position with automaticallyoperable means for holding the cap in closed position and providedwithremotely controlled means mounted in a convenient positionwithin theautomobile forreleasing the locking. means when it is desiredto fillthetank;

The closure mechanism for the filling tube as illustratedin the"drawings comprises an annular plate I having a flat upper surface 2 andprovided with a countersink 3 adapted to fit upon the end 4 of a fillingtube of usual standard construction which is provided with an inwardlyextending flange 5 and a downwardly extending lip 6 having a lowerinclined or cam-shaped edge I. In such usual constructions the flangeand lip are provided with diametrically opposite cut-away sections 8through which the locking member of. usual caps may be introduced, andthe cap turned through a portion of a revolution to cause the lockingmembers to engage the inclined or cam-shaped edges of the lip I.

In the present construction the upper flat face 2 of the plate I isprovided with an annular countersink 9 and the flange I thus provideddesirably has near its edge an annular groove I I The plate I is lockedupon the inwardly extending lipped flange -5 by a plurality, preferablytwo, ring clamps I2 of the general U-shape having a horizontal upperportion II3 desirably provided on its under face with arib I4 whichengages the groove II of the flange I0 and a lower horizontal portion'I5 which extends beneath and engages the inclined or cam-shaped edge 1of the downwardly extending lip Bofthe filling. tube. The upper surfaceof the horizontal member I5 of the ring clamp is inclined slightlyupwardly to prevent lateral displacement of the the inwardly extendingflange IOof the closure,

plate I. Preferably also the upper flange I3 of the ring clamp I2 isprovided with a hole I 'I having a screw threaded wall to receive a setscrew I8 adapted to engage the wall of the groove I I and therebypositively prevent circumferential displacement of the clamping ring.

By reason of this construction the plate I is so locked to the upper endof the filling tube from within that when the cap is in closed positionit is inaccessible. This locking mechanism furthermore is such that theplate cannot be rotated in a direction to enable the ring clamps to beremoved through the cut-away portions 8 of the fllling tube flange andlip, and removal of the closure for the purpose of theft of fuel fromthe tank is therefore effectively prevented.

v The opening in the plate which registers with the upper end of thefilling tube is closed by a circular metal cap I9 complementary to theplate I. The cap may if desired be provided with a chambered centralportion to decrease its weight. The cap I9 is provided with a rearwardextension or boss 2I complementary to a a similar extension 22 of theplate and is pivotally connected to the plate by a bolt 23 having alarge head, 24 and provided at its lower end with a nut 25 which may belocked in adjusted position by a set screw 26. i i

Theextension of the cap 2I and the extension 22 of the plate arerespectively provided with cylindrical countersinks 21 and 28 and acylindrical sleeve 29, which is mounted in said countersinks, hasa lowerhead 30 which rotatablyfits upon the cylindrical stem of the bolt 23. A

spiral spring 3|, which encircles the bolt 23, is anchored at its lowerend in the head 30 and has at its upper end an extension 32 which ismounted in a suitable diametrical bore in the cap I9. The lower end ofthe head desirably is provided with a diametrical recess 33 adapted tobe engaged by a spanner wrench in order that the sleeve may be turned ina suitable direction to place the spring 3| under tension tending toswing the cap to a predetermined preferably open position. When thesleeve 29 is thus rotated to tension the spring it is secured inadjusted position by a set screw 34 which is mounted in the extension 2|of the plate.

Suitable means are provided for arresting the opening swinging movementof the cap. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the extension 22 of the plate isprovided with a cut-away portion 35 provided at its ends with shouldersadapted to be engaged by a pin 36 which is fixedly mounted in said capand travels in the path concentric with the wall of said cut-awayportion. As illustrated in Fig.4 the. extension 2I of the cap isprovided Witha downward projection 31 which is adapted to engage ashoulder 38 on the extension 22 of the plate I. r

The means for locking the cap in closed'position comprises a bolt 39having a beveled upper end 40 (see Fig. 5) positioned to engage asuitable recess 4| extending upwardly from the under face of theextension 42 of the cap. The bolt 39 desirably is of rectangular formand reciprocably mounted in a complementary guideway in the upper end ofa sleeve 63 having a screw threaded upper end which engagescomplementary screw threads in a vertical aperture through an extension44 of the plate. The bolt 39'is provided with a screw threaded stem 45having mounted upon it a nut 46 which is reciprocably mounted in, acylindrical bore in the lower section of the sleeve. The lower end ofthe sleeve 43 is tapped and has secured to it the upper end of a nipple41 having a small central aperture therethrough and an enlargedcountersunk portion 48. A

spring 49, which is seated upon the upper end' of the nipple and at itsupper end engages the nut 46, normally tends to force the bolt upwardlyinto locking position.

Suitable means are provided for connecting the bolt to a device whichwill permit-remote control of the locking bolt. In the preferredembodiment illustrated the screw threaded portion 45 ofthe bolt isprovided with a hollow nut 50 having a head 5I provided with a smallcentral aperture and a Wire 52 leading to the remote control deviceextends through the bore ingthe upper end of the sleeve and through thebore in the nut and is bent over within the hollow nut in such mannerthat when the wire is pulled lengthwise the nut 50 and the bolt 39 willbe withdrawn from looking position. The bolt-actuating wire 50 desirablyis enclosed ina coiled wire flexible sheath 53 one end of which extendsinto the countersink 48 of the nippleIII and is fixedly has its remoteend secured to aknob 51 normally held against the rear face ofthe'instrument board or dash by the action of the spring 49.

The knob 51 therefore constitutes a remote control device which whendrawn away from the instrument board pulls the locking bolt 39downwardly thereby releasing it from engagement with the socket in thecap and permitting the cap to be swung from the closed positionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 to open position illustrated in Figs. 2 and4.

Obviously when all of the doors of the car are locked this bolt isinaccessible so that when the cap is in locked position it cannot beswung laterally to expose the open end of the filling tube. Theft offuel is thereby'effectively prevented.

Complementary means are provided upon the plate and cap to prevent thecap from being pried up or broken off to permit access to the fuel. Inthe construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the extension 44 of theplate has welded to it a boss 58 having an extension 59 adapted tooverlie a boss or extension 60 which is integral with the extension 42of the cap. An equivalent construction which is shown in Figs. 4 and 5comprises a boss 6| integral with the extension 4! of the plate whichhas an inwardly extending flange 62 adapted to overlie a countersunkportion 63 of the extension 42 of the cap.

The bosses 58 and BI also act to limit the clos ing movement of the capand to position the recess 4| in the cap in accurate alinement with theupper end of the bolt 39. The beveled upper end 40 of the bolt 39enables the cap to be swung into locking position as the flat under faceof the cap will, when it engages the beveled upper end of the bolt,force the bolt downwardly compressing the spring 49 until the recess 4|is in alinement with the bolt, whereupon the bolt will be thrustupwardly by the spring into the locking position illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the operation of the device the bolt 39 normally is maintained inupwardly extending position in engagement with the socket in the cap, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. When the operator of the automobiledesires to refill the tank he stops at a filling station, thereuponpulls upon the knob 57 which is conveniently located upon the dashsufiiciently to withdraw the bolt 39 from locking position. The spring3| thereupon swings the cap laterally to open position, as illustratedin Figs. 2 and 4. The attendant at the gasoline station may thereuponintroduce the desired amount of gasoline into the tank and after havingremoved the filling hose swing the cap to closed position. Inasmuch asthe bolt is restored by the spring 49 to locking position immediatelywhen the operator of the car releases the knob 51 the cap isautomatically locked in closed position. By reason of this constructionthe attendant is relieved of the necessity of removing the cap as iscustomary and placing it in a convenient location and afterwardsrestoring the cap to its locked position, thereby saving a considerableamount of time which otherwise would be required. Furthermore, there isno danger that the attendant of the gasoline station will fail toreplace the cap or properly to lock the cap in place as the only actwhich he is required to accomplish is to swing the cap to closedposition.

By reason of the pivotal connection between the cap and the plate whichcomprises a sleeve of large diameter which extends both into the plateand cap, the fiat contacting surfaces of the sleeve and cap aremaintained in tight engageof the filling tube, thus further insuringinaccessibility to the filling tube by predatory individuals.

While the present invention has been more specifically described withreference to its applicability to the filling tubes of gasoline tanks ofautomobiles, it will be understood that the invention may be applied t9the filling tube of any tank in which a remote control of the lockingmechanism for the filling tube cap is desirable.

It will be understood'that the particular embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein are of an illustrative character and are notrestrictive of the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A safety appliance for closing a fuel tank filling tube having aninternal flange provided with downwardly extending lips presentingspaced inclined lower edges comprising an an.- nular plate having adownwardly extending flange to fit the end of the filling tube andpresenting an upper flat face provided with an inner annular countersunkportion having a' concentric groove, a plurality of spaced narrowring-clamp members having means to engage respectively the groove of thecountersink and one of the inclined edges of said lip, each of said ringclamps having a set screw engaging said plate to prevent displacement ofsaid ring clamps, a cap having a fiat face complementary to and engagingthe fiat face of said plate, means pivotally connecting said cap to saidplate to permit the cap to swing laterally with said flat faces incontact, resilient means connecting said plate and said cap normallytending to swing said cap to open position, and remotely controlledmeans for locking said cap to said platewhen in closed position.

2. A safety appliance for closing a fuel tank filling tube comprising anannular plate having means fitting the end of said filling tube andinternally secured thereto and presenting a fiat upper surface, a caphaving a flat surface complementary to that of said plate closelyengaging the same, means pivotally connecting the cap to the platecomprising a sleeve seated in complementary extensions of said plate andcap, a spring having one end secured to said cap and the other end tosaid sleeve and adapted to be so placed under tension by rotation ofsaid sleeve as to swing the cap toa predetermined position,

means for securing the sleeve in adjusted position, abolt extendingaxially through said sleeve and 'said cap and remotely controlled meansfor locking said cap in closed position.

FRANK A. EDWARDS. HENRY L. PATNAUDE.

